christmas day

Advent Daily Devotional: BIRTHDAY of CHRIST: Day 28-Sat, Dec 25-Christmas Day

… It was no messenger or angel but his presence that saved them; in his love and in his pity he redeemed them. — Isaiah 63:9

Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights. — James 1:17

The Lord is God, and he has given us light. — Psalm 118:27

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Light the final, fifth candle. Doing so, welcome Emmanuel—God with Us— into the world and into your life.

            Godself is the holy source of love and light. Yet each person bears that light on behalf of the One who lived among humans, died as a human, and returned beyond death itself to meet you where you are on your own journey. Across centuries, your spiritual ancestors have taught that your hands and feet, your heart and mind, your acts and words embody and reflect the life of Christ.

            In this imperfect, impermanent way, you carry holy light within you. Perhaps, by itself, your light is small in scale. Yet it changes the darkness and creates a point of focus and transformation. Then your singular light connects with others, multiplying its energy and effect.           

            The final candle you light on Christmas Day is an echo of the first and eternal light from which all other lights take their meaning and power. Thus God’s gift of love, reborn into the world, renewed in your heart, reawakened in your community, changes the world one light and one life at a time: beginning with you. Let it burn! — Rev Gail

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Agape doesn’t love somebody because they’re worthy.
Agape makes them worthy by the strength and power of its love.
Agape doesn’t love somebody because they’re beautiful.
Agape loves in such a way that it makes them beautiful.
Rob Bell

… the light is all. — Ralph Waldo Emerson

THIS WEEK: MON, Dec 10 – SUN, Dec 16

At Jackson Community Church and Around Town

This week @ JCC: Tue – Deacons Mtg, Wed – Pastors Hours & Fitness with Laurie McAleer; Thurs – Yoga with Anjali Rose; Fri – Pastors Hours, Sun – Interfaith Gathering (old library) & Worship with Christmas Pageant and  Peace & Pizza Concert with Dennis O’Neil & Davey Armstrong. Around town: Tue – Book Group (library), Thurs – Christmas Concert by Jackson Grammar School (Whitney Community Center), Sat – Craft Fair (Whitney Community Center for Jackson Grammar School) & Christmas Bird Count (ends @ Tin Mountain Conservation Center). Plus Save these Dates: Wed, Dec 19 – Peace Program (old red library), Fri, Dec 21 – Longest Night Winter Solstice Celebration (Tin Mountain Field Station, Jackson)


Ongoing: FRONT ENTRANCE RENOVATION
Tamarack Construction proceeds with installation this week. MON, Dec 10

  • Community Event: WAY STATION TEAM MTG
    4pm • Members of Way Station leadership (day resource center for homeless population in Mt Washington Valley) meet with Vaughan Center leaders to review guidelines under which Vaughan will serve as the Way Station’s fiscal agent. Rev Gail and church members serve on this team.

TUE, Dec 11

  • CLERGY LUNCH
    12:30pm • Members of Clergy of the Eastern Slope gather. Rev Gail belongs to and attends this gathering.
  • DEACONS MTG
    4pm. • Deacons meet to prepare for Christmas worship, January services, and to review visitation and community care.
  • Community Event: ADULT BOOK GROUP
    4:30pm • Jackson Public Library
    Did You Ever Have a Family? adult book discussion

WED, Dec 12

  • PASTOR’S HOURS
    7-9am • Glen Ledge Corner Store & Gas Station. Come by for hot beverage and conversation. Or make a date to go for a walk by calling/texting Rev Gail 978.273.0308 or emailing Rev Gail (gaildoktor@mac.com).
  • TUNE UP FITNESS with Laurie McAleer
    9am • Parish House, Jackson Community Church.Fitness class. Free; open. to public
  • Community Event: WAY STATION TEAM MTG
    10am • Nativity Lutheran Church, North Conway.
    Meeting of leadership team to review projects leading up to opening of Way Station in early 2019. Rev Gail & church member serve on this team.

THURS, Dec 13

  • Community Event: AGE-FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES STEERING COMMITTEE
    8:30am • Gibson Center. Reports on the recommendations of subcommittees regarding actionable projects to nurture an age-friendly experience in the Mt Washington Valley. Guided Gibson Center through AARP as agent of World Health Organization. Rev Gail serves on this task force.
  • INTRODUCTORY YOGA with Anjali Rose 
    9am • Parish House, Jackson Community Church Introductory yoga.
  • AA
    6:30pm • Second Floor, Church.
  • Community Event: CHRISTMAS CONCERT
    5:30-7pm • Jackson Grammar School

FRI, Dec  14

  • PASTOR’S HOURS
    7-9am • JTown Deli. Come by for hot beverage and conversation. Or make a date to go for a walk by calling/texting Rev Gail 978.273.0308 or emailing Rev Gail (gaildoktor@mac.com)

SAT, Dec 15

  • Community Event: CHRISTMAS CRAFT FAIR
    Morning • Whitney Community Center.
    Jackson Grammar School’s craft fair. Proceeds from specific tables (White Elephant table) will support the Merriman House’s Music & Memory program for Alzheimer’s patients and the Way Station day resource center serving homeless Mt Washington Valley families. Our Missions team will have a small table at this event.
  • Community Event: CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT
    All day • Coordinated by Tin Mountain Conservation Center. Join us for the 30th annual North Conway Christmas Bird Count.  Observers  needed for traveling routes by foot, cross country skis, snowshoes, or by car.  You can also tally birds at your feeder. Meet back at the Nature Learning Center at 5pm to tally our counts and share stories from the day. Call 447-6991 to participate. 

SUN,  Dec 16: Advent 3 – Joy

  • INTERFAITH GATHERING @ OLD LIBRARY
    8am • Old Library. Hot beverages available. Come for poetry, literature, conversation and prayer.
  • YOUTH & CHILDREN
    9am • Church. Prep for pageant.
  • WORSHIP with PAGEANT
    10:30am •  Jackson Community Church.
    • Advent wreath-lighting by family.
    • Accompanist: Alan Labrie
    • Special Music: Gia
  • MISSIONS
    11:30am • Jackson Community Church.
    Missions offers gift cards for supported programs.
  • PEACE & PIZZA CONCERT with Dennis O’Neil & Davey Armstrong
    4pm • Jackson Community Church. These local musicians will perform some of their favorite songs with the theme of peace woven into this rollicking musical mix! Donations welcome; open to the public. The Shannon Door welcomes hungry concert-goers to eat pizza afterward (dining out is at each participant’s own cost).

SAVE THE DATE

Community Events:

PEACE PROGRAM
100th Anniversary of Armistice (Ending WWI)
Wednesday, Dec 19

5-6pm • Old Red Library   Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of Armistice and the “War to End All Wars” as the First World War was known. Opportunity for people to bring in poems, songs, artwork, medals received, etc.   Includes:

  • Musical performance of “Christmas in the Trenches” by Dexter Harding.
  • Poetry selections offered by Tony Deluca
  • Other contributions to this topic through poetry, literature and art.

LONGEST NIGHT:
WINTER SOLSTICE CELEBRATION
Friday, Dec 21

4:30pm – 6pm (or later)
Tin Mountain Field Station, Tin Mine Rd, Jackson

  • Guided snowshoe walks by Tin Mountain Conservation Center staff
  • Crafts and readings inside
  • Reflections on darkness & light
  • Bonfire outside
  • More activities!

CHRISTMAS at JACKSON COMMUNITY CHURCH

BLUE CHRISTMAS
Thurs, Dec 20

  • 7pm • Come to reflect on grief & loss in the midst of a holiday season.

ADVENT 4: LOVE
Sunday, Dec 23

  • 9am • Advent Workshop
  • 9am • Choir Rehearsal with Ellen Schwindt
  • 10:30am • Worship with Advent Candle Lighting

CHRISTMAS EVE
Monday, Dec 24

  • 5pm • Candlelight Service
    Sing carols, read and reflect on scriptures that re-tell the Nativity Story, and candlelight service with special music!
  • 10pm • Candlelight Service
    Sing carols, read and reflect on scriptures that re-tell the Nativity Story, and candlelight service with special music!

CHRISTMAS MORNING
Tuesday, Dec 25

  • 10:30am • Pajamas, Stories & Bells. Come to church in PJs to ring bells, sing songs, and hear a special Christmas story.
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